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Business cards: To pose or not to pose

Pictures might be worth a thousand words...but no one ever said

they would automatically be worth a thousand dollars.

Figuring out whether or not to include your picture in your next

business card is one of those key decisions you don't want to be

taking lightly. It's one no entrepreneur can afford to ignore.

Of course, knowing where and how your business card will be

distributed and received will be a big factor in your final

decision. If your plan is to plaster your business card on every

coffee shop bulleting board in a 20-mile radius, a little face

recognition couldn't hurt. Or could it?

The fact of the matter is that photos - much like flashy logos

and other graphics - will influence how people respond to your

business card and, consequently, how successful you will be in

getting their business. So before you decide to get your hair

done for the money shot, here are a few advantages and

disadvantages to consider:

1. Photos build trust, which may explain why they most often

appear on business cards in the real estate, counseling and

public speaking professions. If you're working in a field where

trust and confidentiality reign supreme, a photo can be a great

way for clients to become acquainted with you.

2. Photos foster name/face recognition. Sending a picture

business card to a new client you contacted by phone or through

e-mail can actually facilitate your first person-to-person

encounter. It can also help identify entrepreuneurs with unisex

names, such as Chris or Joey.

3. Photos almost always lead to pre-judgments. Given that its

human nature to judge other people based on appearance, you

should keep in mind that your gender, skin colour, age, outfit

and even facial expressions might suddenly become the deciding

factor in whether or not you will get a call-back.

4. Photos can date and even outdate you. A few wrinkles or a

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blast-from-the-past haircut can be enough to convince a

prospective client that you aren't the cutting-edge entrepreneur

you claim to be. An old photo on a business card can even be

interpreted as lack of demand for your business in general.

It's also important to remember that photography doesn't come

cheap.

That means if you are dead set on having your picture on a

business card, make sure you don't cut any corners. A low

quality photograph can ruin your business card - not matter how

cute you thought you looked in the picture.

About the author:

Copyright 2006, Businesscards4me.com. All Rights Reserved Mark

Knerr is a graphic designer specializing in company logo design

and business card design services. He also offers professional,

full color postcard, plastic cards and business card printing.

http://www.businesscards4me.com